Not everyone is a professional photographer, most are merely hobbyists. Not everyone has the resources to buy the expensive slr camera, many make due with simple "snapshot" cameras. Telling those people to get their exposures right is a waste of breath, seeing as they dont have a choice. Learn to live with the fact that not everyone is a professional with pro-level tools. The photography gallery and forum are for, and i quote from the little bit under the banner, "all persons interested in photography", and having an interest doesn't mean you have the time nor means to do what pros are expected to do. Comparing Ansel Adams with the average hobbyist is a pointless argument. If someone like Alpha were to start posting shots that fall into your argument, I'd be the first person to jump on his back and scream into his ear "WAKE UP!", but very few people are at his level in terms of photographic skill, both pre and post production, nor do many have as much experience as he has which has led to his skill level today. Everyone starts somewhere. If you were to pick up 3D Studio max, and decide within a year to make a model of a Pontiac GTO (is that what its called?), people COULD post under it saying its substandard compared to the rest of the pontiac gto models out there, but then again after only a year of working with the program, you wouldn't really be at that level now would you... To tell everyone who isn't a pro to buck up and do things this and that way because that's what they SHOULD do according to you because you aren't satisfied with their work because they may not be at your level because they may not have the same access to the tools you use nor have as much experience as you may have, well, you're going to be quite unhappy as the days go by with those same people STILL not doing things your way, so maybe a place like http://www.photo.net/ is more your style. There are plenty of people there who say exactly what you're saying many times a day to aspiring amateurs and hobbyists, essentially taking all the fun away from the photographer (or maybe graphic artist? Perhaps "hack" would be a more suitable term), so you'll feel right at home. in the mean time, people like to have fun in this forum. there are people with 20K$ worth of equipment shooting professionally, and people with 200$ 2 megapixel digital cameras and photo deluxe software. It's a fun place, and I'd like to keep it that way, as photo.net is a boring and uninviting place if you're anything but a god.